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Where does the word "technology" come from? It comes from Greek tekhne, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).
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Where does the word "technology" come from? It comes from Greek tekhne, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).
Technology’s story begins in Greek: tekhne meant “art, skill, craft.” Art, skill, craft, combined with logos (study). It reached English by 1610s as technology. Settled as the English word for the application of scientific knowledge to practical purposes. Today, technology means the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, or its resulting tools and machines.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient tekhne "art, skill, craft", art, skill, craft, combined with logos (study).
- Stage 2 · English · 1610s technology "the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes", settled as the English word for the application of scientific knowledge to practical purposes.